July 01, 2012|By DAVID DRURY, Special to the Courant, The Hartford Courant

ROCKY HILL — —

As a former teacher at Griswold Middle School, Jack Chamis nourished young minds.

Now the pastor of a fledgling nondenominational church, he is helping provide a different kind of nourishment to local residents.

Chamis, 47, and members of The Oasis of Life Christian Church are working with Foodshare Inc. to distribute fresh fruit and produce twice a month at Elm Ridge Park to needy individuals and families.

The distributions, which began in June, mark the first time that the regional food bank's mobile distribution program has been in Rocky Hill. Agency trucks regularly visit 57 distribution sites in 19 other communities across the greater Hartford region, according to the agency's website.

Mark Williams, the town's director of human services, said the first half-hour distribution drew about 25 recipients. The number more than doubled at the second session held June 22.

"The quality of produce is excellent. I'm pleased with it,'' said Williams who authorized use of the park for the distributions.

A Southington resident, Chamis taught school for 18 years after graduating from Central Connecticut State University in 1987. The last seven years were spent at Griswold Middle, where he taught wood shop and technical education, was once named the school's teacher of the year and served as a department head.

Ordained a pastor in 2004, he decided to enter the ministry full time and resigned his teaching position in 2005. He spent the first several years of his post-teaching career as an assistant pastor at Tabernacle Church, then last year started his own church in Rocky Hill. His flock, currently numbering between 35 and 40, hold weekly services at a conference room at Porter & Chester Institute.

Married and the father of three teenagers, Chamis became involved with Foodshare at Tabernacle Church, where he operated the church's food pantry. The agency asked him to coordinate the launch of the Mobile Foodshare program in Rocky Hill.

"They called me early in the spring. I had to find a site to do this and Mark helped me to get the park."

Chamis said the recipients during the first two sessions included people of many different ages. He anticipates that he will be seeing 80 to 100 people per session during the summer once word gets around.

"It takes courage to stand in that line,'' he said.

For the volunteers, the rewards are perhaps even greater.

"It's the opportunity to stop talking about being a Christian, to stop just putting on bumper stickers or putting up signs and really doing something.'' He said. "It's humbling."

Foodshare will distribute fresh fruit and vegetables at Elm Ridge Park this summer on the following dates: July 6, July 20, Aug. 3, Aug. 17 and Aug. 31. Distributions begin at 1:30 p.m. and last a half hour. Recipients are asked to sign an affidavit declaring that the fall below specified income levels or receive other forms of assistance. No proof of residency is required. Questions may be directed to the Oasis Church, 860-529-0701, or Foodshare at 860-286-9999.